Aboriginal deaths in custody and plans to slash the NDIS: THREAD
There are lots of great people writing on the #RCIADIC30Years today and leading up to today, but I just want to touch on something I haven't seen much of: incarcerating Aboriginal people with disability. 1/?
There are lots of great people writing on the #RCIADIC30Years today and leading up to today, but I just want to touch on something I haven't seen much of: incarcerating Aboriginal people with disability. 1/?
In the past few weeks while there have been 5 more Aboriginal deaths in custody, it is pretty clear that the current state of affairs is dire.
However, what people may not realise is the impact of the leaked proposals to change the eligibility criteria of the NDIS 2/?
However, what people may not realise is the impact of the leaked proposals to change the eligibility criteria of the NDIS 2/?
"People with disability, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, are overrepresented in the criminal justice system in Australia" - humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/… 3/?
Inadequate diagnosis, management and accessibility for Aboriginal people with disability can adversely affect them at all points of the criminal justice system. 4/?
For example, deafness/hearing loss can affect how well someone participates in the court process including pleas, answering questions and giving evidence 5/?
Research in the Northern Territory has indicated that a very large number of Aboriginal detainees experience deafness/hearing loss abc.net.au/news/2017-07-0… 6/?
Another big issue is foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) which can impact learning, impulsivity, following instructions, connecting actions to consequences and social relationships nofasd.org.au/wp-content/upl… 7/?
Research in WA is indicating that a large proportion of kids in prison have FASD, and a large subset of those kids are Aboriginal theguardian.com/australia-news… 8/?
Not only does FASD affect a person's ability to participate in school, work and social life, it also has a significant impact on how people participate in the justice system austlii.edu.au/au/journals/IL… 9/?
Then of course is the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody with mental health issues, including mental illness caused by trauma indigenousjustice.gov.au/wp-content/upl… 10/?
The research on how lack of support and lack of services for Aboriginal people with disabilities relates to incarceration rates is out there alrc.gov.au/wp-content/upl… 11/?
It is really difficult to get access to support through the NDIS. I have friends with disabilities who are not just lawyers but extremely successful lawyers who needed advocates to navigate the NDIS application process and collate reports and assessments 12/?
For FASD in particular, it is really hard getting access to specialists who can diagnose the disorder abc.net.au/news/2018-09-1… 13/?
Not only are Aboriginal people with disability missing out on support prior to incarceration, having a disability really affects your experience as a detainee including following instructions, solitary confinement, interacting with other detainees, medication & counselling 14/?
There has been research into deaths in custody of people with disability and the inadequate support provided by prisons leading to self-harm, suicide or violence from other detainees hrw.org/news/2020/09/1… 15/?
One question we must ask ourselves is why aren't Aboriginal people with disability getting better support earlier? The other question we must ask ourselves is why is it getting worse? 16/?
A few weeks ago a draft legislative proposal was leaked that would change the eligibility criteria to exclude people with FASD, acquired brain injuries and people in prison from receiving NDIS funding smh.com.au/politics/feder… 17/?
The government has since backtracked on the proposals around FASD, but it is still unclear what is going to happen for NDIS packages for people in prison smh.com.au/national/no-in… 18/?
We need to break the cycle and support Aboriginal people with disability, not criminalise them. One organisation to support is @FPDNAus who advocate for First Peoples with disability and their families 19/?
Aboriginal women are particularly affected by disability so please support and follow @DebKilroy and Sisters Inside who campaign for Aboriginal women to be released from custody 20/?
Listen to the families of those who have died in custody
https://twitter.com/NATSILS_/status/1382471592194629633?s=1921/?
Follow and support @IndigenousXLtd
https://twitter.com/IndigenousXLtd/status/1382181568353951747?s=1922/?
Another massive issue stemming from both disability and disadvantage is lack of literacy so please support the @IndigenousLF 24/?
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